Apparatus and method for forming article carriers

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus for forming a carrier for an article group. The carrier is formed from webs extending around the individual articles of the group. Apparatus is provided for feeding a pair of inner webs between two rows of the group, and structure is provided for forming the webs so that each web half encircles the articles of each row. These webs are joined at the points of conjugacy of the articles. Apparatus is also provided for feeding a pair of webs along the outer sides of each row, and for joining such outer webs to the inner webs. Structure is provided for stretching the outer webs as they are adhered to the inner webs to rely on the memory characteristics of the thermoplastic resins forming the webs to insure that the article enclosing loops snugly fit the articles.

United States Patent [191 Walter 1 Jan. 16, 1973 APPARATUS AND METHODFOR FORMING ARTICLE CARRIERS Inventor: Richard T. Walter, Norristown,Pa.

Assignee: Container Corporation of America,

Chicago, Ill.

Filed: June 8, 1970 Appl. No.: 44,336

U.S. Cl. ..53/3, 53/29, 53/48, 53/183, 53/198 A Int. Cl ..B65b 13/04,B65b 17/04 Field of Search ..53/30, 84, 198, 48, 3, 29, 53/183References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Primary Examiner-Theron E. CondonAssistant Examiner-Eugene F. Desmond Attorney-Carpenter, Ostis &Lindberg [57] ABSTRACT Method and apparatus for forming a carrier for anarticle group. The carrier is formed from webs extending around theindividual articles of the group. Apparatus is provided for feeding apair of inner webs between two rows of the group, and structure isprovided for forming the webs so that each web half encircles thearticles of each row. These webs are joined at the points of conjugacyof the articles. Apparatus is also provided for feeding a pair of websalong the outer sides of each row, and for joining such outer webs tothe inner webs. Structure is provided for stretching the outer webs asthey are adhered to the inner webs to rely on the memory characteristicsof the thermoplastic resins forming the webs to insure that the articleenclosing loops snugly fit the articles.

1 1 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJAH 16 Ian 3.710.535

sum 1 OF 2 INVENTOR RICHARD T. WALTER BY QJWL AZZWZ ATTORNEYSPATENTEDJAN 16 ms 3.710.535

SHEET 2 BF 2 C JQA'MW 0 o 0 W o'ua'a FIGB INVENTOR RICHAR D T WALTER BYa zztflawum ATTORNEYS APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORMING ARTICLE CARRIERSBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to a method and apparatus for making an article carrier fromweb-like material. The resulting carrier consists of a plurality ofconjugately arranged loops adapted to be fitted about a group ofcontainers arranged in a predetermined relationship. The loops areformed in a unique method practiced in the apparatus disclosed herein.

This application is an improvement over the structure and methoddisclosed in Chidsey, Jr. application Ser. No. 31,520, filed Apr. 24,1970, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,611,656, issued Oct. 12, 1971, for method andApparatus for Forming Carriers for Container Groups.

2. The Prior Art In the packaging of beverages, for example, thosecommonly known as six-packs, it has been the practice to form a carrierfrom a web of a resinous material having memory characteristics. The webis provided with apertures through which a container extends and isengaged. After the apertured web is placed over the container group, theresinous material of the web is shrunk about the individual containers,so that they are tightly secured by the web.

The following patents are illustrative of the prior art relating tocarriers of the general type just discussed and formed in the mannerrecited.

Poupitch 2,874,835

Poupitch 2,997,169 Fisher 3,044,230

Poupitch 3,086,651 Whyte 3,232,422 Cunningham 3,268,070 Wanderer3,269,530 Heart 3,307,321

In the formation of carriers as disclosed in the above patents, a movingweb must be punched to provide the container receiving apertures,resulting in an inordinate amount of waste material.

Other forms of carriers made from resinous materials are shown in thefollowing patents:

Whiteford' 3,224,576 Stern, et al. 3,250,564 Wanderer 3,269,530

Structures of the kind disclosed in the just previously mentionedpatents require the use of the complicated moulding equipment whichcannot function in continuous uninterrupted cycles.

The following patents illustrate carriers formed from a flat sheet ofresinous material having the property of being shrinkable about thecontainers. These carriers are formed with a minimum amount of loss inscrap material.

Biesecker et al. 2,994,426 Curry et al. 3,186,544 Wozniak 3,385,626

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A carrier constructed according to the methodand apparatus of present invention consist of conjugately arrangedloops, each having an axial extent which is considerably greater thanthe thickness of the materials forming the loops. The tube-like elementsare formed from a plurality of webs fed to moving container groups andadhered together between the containers of the group to provide aplurality of loops, each loop being adapted to hold tightly therein acontainer of the container group.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of apparatus for carrying out themethod according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 to 6 inclusive are schematic plan views showing the stepsemployed in forming an article carrier in the apparatus seen in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a container group held within a carrier formedby the apparatus and method according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side view thereof; and

FIG. 9 is an end view thereof;

The improved apparatus and method according to the present invention isreferred to generally by the reference numeral 10 and is adapted to forman article carrier 10A about an article or container group CG comprisedof individual articles or containers C which may be of the type havingupper and lower chimed ends CH.

The structure for forming the carrier 10A about the container group CGseen in FIGS. 6 to 8 inclusive is seen in FIG. 1, and includes a pair ofsupply reels SR1 and SR2, these respectively supplying inner webs W1 andW2. The webs are preferably made of resinous material having memorycharacteristics for a purpose as will appear. In the several views seenthe thickness of the webs is exaggerated to enable the invention to bedescribed more readily. The webs W1 and W2 are preferably made ofthermoplastic material and self adhere by the application of heat.

The two webs W1 and W2 may be adapted to be fed between paired spacedrollers 11 and 12, rollers 1 1 turning at a greater peripheral speedthan rollers 12 so that the length of the webs therebetween is stretcheda slight amount. The two webs W1 and W2 move in sideby-side relationshipin timed relationship with a flight conveyor 13A having flights l4thereon, these standing erect from the individual flight members 13Bcomprising conveyor 13. The webs W1 and W2 are spaced by the flights 14.

The twov webs W1 and W2 are adhered together by means of heated weldingmembers 16 movable to and fro laterally of the direction of the movementof the flight conveyor 13A by means of air cylinders 17. Structure, notshown, is provided for heating the members 16, and details of suchstructure are well known and need not be described in detail herein.Upon closing of the two laterally moving web members 16 with the webs W1and W2 therebetween a weld 15- is made in webs W1 and W2 midway betweena pair of upstanding flights 14.

It may be noted that the welding operation referred to takes place withsuch speed in the ordinary case that the welding members 16 and theactuating cylinders 17 do not need to move with the flight conveyor 13,and that the time of contact of the two webs W1 and W2 during suchwelding operation is such a short interval that a flying type of devicemay not be necessary. It may be noted also, that the welds are madethree at a time, and that the operation of the welding members 16 andcylinders 17 are timed according to the movement of conveyor 13A.

The two inner webs W1 and W2 are shown as extending in rathersemi-circular fashion between adjacent flights 14. Actually, each web W1and W2 is stretched a slight amount between adjacent flights 14 byreason of the operation of the welding members l6, l6.

. The so-connected webs W1 and W2 thus have pockets P therein betweenthe adjacent flights 14, and structure is provided for introducing acontainer C to each side-by-side pocket P. These are fed in a chutedefined by side rails 18 and 19, and the containers C are properlyspaced by star wheels 21 located one to each side of the flight conveyor13A, and turning in timed relationship with the pockets P and flightconveyor 13A upon a shaft 22. Each of the star wheels 21 has containerpockets CP therein, and in being guided to the pockets P formed inside-by-side webs W1 and W2, each individual container C movesadditionally past a side rail member 20.

The containers C move with the flight conveyor 13A in side-by-siderelationship with each container held in a pocket P formed in the innerwebs W1 and W2, and the containers C are each constrained toward thepocket P by endless orbitally movable strands 23 trained at theirupstream end around a sprocket 24 and at their downstream end aroundsecond sprocket 26. The strands shown herein are in the form of endlesssprocket chains but they equally well may be endless belts trainedbetween tail and head pulleys 24 and 26.

Downstream from the point where the containers C are moved to theindividual pockets P, a pair of outer webs W3 and W4 are trained alongside the outer faces of the articles C, and are joined respectively tothe webs W l and W2, as will now appear.

Each of the webs W3 and W4 is supplied from respective supply reel SR3and SR4, and the webs W3 and W4 are additionally moved between spacedpaired rollers 27 and 28 which stretch the webs W3 and W4 slightly, ifdesired, in the same fashion as the webs W1 and W2.

Structure is provided for adhering the webs W3 and W4 to the respectivewebs W1 and W2 in such a fashion that webs W3 and W4 are stretched toinsure that they form loops L about the container bodies C. By reason ofthe memory characteristics of the resinous material forming the webs theloops L are firmly and snugly engaged about each container body C.

To this end welding members 29 operated by cylinders 31 are arranged toweld outer webs W3 and W4 to inner webs W1 and W2 at weldments 30. In sodoing the webs W3 and W4 extend along the outer faces of the outer rowof containers C as seen more clearly in FIGS. 4 and 5. Intermediatewelding members 32 operated by cylinders 33 move against outer webs W3and W4 to form weldments 34 with inner webs W1 and W2.

It will be seen that the outer webs W3 and W4 thereby tightly encircleeach container C.

As with the heater members 16 and the actuating cylinders 17 providingfor adherence of webs W1 and W3, welding members 29 and 32 actuatingcylinders 31 and 33 may be mounted in such a fashion as to perform thesealing function in a flying manner. Unless the container body C movesat a very great speed a flying arrangement such is not necessary, solong as a good seal is made between the moving webs.

At the completion of the placement of the loops L about the containerbodies C, a container group CG is separated from the moving line ofcontainers by a flying shear FS operated by a shear mechanism FSM. Theresultant group then appears as seen in F 168. 7 to 9.

I claim:

1. ln apparatus for forming article carriers having:

a. means for feeding a pair of inner webs in side-byside relationship;

means for adhering the same together at longitudinally spaced pointstherealong;

0. means for spacing the webs laterally so as to define an articlereceiving pocket between each point of adherence of said webs;

d. means for delivering an article to each of said pockets so that saidarticles move in side-by-side rows;

e. means for feeding a pair of outer webs along the outer sides of saidarticles;

f. means for forming said last named webs about said articles and foradhering the same to corresponding inner webs to define an articleencircling loops which are connected together;

the improvement in said last named means wherein said last named meansis:

i. first operable to successively adhere said outer webs to said innerwebs at points marking the beginning and end of a group of articles tobe retained between all of the aforesaid webs;

ii. said outer webs extending along the outer sides of said groupbetween the beginning and the end of said group;

iii. subsequently operable to engage the outer webs between articles ofsaid group intermediate said beginning and end points to stretch saidouter webs prior to adhering same to said inner webs. 2. Apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein said inner webs spacing means includes anendless conveyor having web engaging flights extending therefrom.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for forming saidouter webs about said articles includes means movable against said innerweb spacing means with one of said inner and outer webs engagedtherebetween.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said webs are formed fromresinous materials having memory characteristics and wherein the meansfor feeding said inner webs includes means for stretching said webswhereby the memory characteristics of said resinous material causes saidwebs to engage said articles snugly.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the means for forming theouter webs around said articles stretches said outer webs whereby thememory characteristics of said resinous materials causes said outer websto engage said articles snugly.

6. The invention according to claim 1 where means are provided forsevering said article carrier at regular intervals to provide discretearticle groups.

7. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said webs are formed ofthermoplastic materials and wherein the adhering means are adapted toheat said webs for adhesion.

8. A method of forming article carriers which comprises the steps of:

a. feeding a pair of inner webs in side-by-side relationship;

b. adhering same together at longitudinally spaced points therealong;

c. spacing the adhered webs laterally between the points of adherencethereof to define article receiving pockets in each web;

d. delivering an article to the pockets of each web so that saidarticles move in side-by-side rows;

e. feeding a pair of outer webs along the outer side of said articles;

f. forming said outer webs about said articles and adhering the same tocorresponding inner webs to define article encircling loops which areconnected together;

g. the improvements in said method comprising the steps of:

i. adhering said outer webs to said inner webs at points marking thebeginning and end of a group of articles to be retained between all ofthe aforesaid webs;

ii. adhering said outer webs to said inner webs between articles of saidgroup intermediate said beginning and end points for stretching saidouter webs prior to adhering the same to said inner webs.

9. A method according to claim 8 which includes the step of stretchingsaid webs to rely on the memory characteristics thereof to cause thearticle engaging loops to firmly engage said articles.

10. A method according to claim 8 which includes the step of severingsaid webs at intervals defining said articles as article groups.

11. A method according to claim 8 wherein said webs are formed fromthermoplastic material and said webs are adhered by pressure and heat.

1. In apparatus for forming article carriers having: a. means forfeeding a pair of inner webs in side-by-side relationship; b. means foradhering the same together at longitudinally spaced points therealong;c. means for spacing the webs laterally so as to define an articlereceiving pocket between each point of adherence of said webs; d. meansfor delivering an article to each of said pockets so that said articlesmove in side-by-side rows; e. means for feeding a pair of outer websalong the outer sides of said articles; f. means for forming said lastnamed webs about said articles and for adhering the same tocorresponding inner webs to define an article encircling loops which areconnected together; g. the improvement in said last named means whereinsaid last named meaNs is: i. first operable to successively adhere saidouter webs to said inner webs at points marking the beginning and end ofa group of articles to be retained between all of the aforesaid webs;ii. said outer webs extending along the outer sides of said groupbetween the beginning and the end of said group; iii. subsequentlyoperable to engage the outer webs between articles of said groupintermediate said beginning and end points to stretch said outer websprior to adhering same to said inner webs.
 2. Apparatus according toclaim 1 wherein said inner webs spacing means includes an endlessconveyor having web engaging flights extending therefrom.
 3. Apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein said means for forming said outer websabout said articles includes means movable against said inner webspacing means with one of said inner and outer webs engagedtherebetween.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said webs areformed from resinous materials having memory characteristics and whereinthe means for feeding said inner webs includes means for stretching saidwebs whereby the memory characteristics of said resinous material causessaid webs to engage said articles snugly.
 5. Apparatus according toclaim 4 wherein the means for forming the outer webs around saidarticles stretches said outer webs whereby the memory characteristics ofsaid resinous materials causes said outer webs to engage said articlessnugly.
 6. The invention according to claim 1 where means are providedfor severing said article carrier at regular intervals to providediscrete article groups.
 7. The invention according to claim 1 whereinsaid webs are formed of thermoplastic materials and wherein the adheringmeans are adapted to heat said webs for adhesion.
 8. A method of formingarticle carriers which comprises the steps of: a. feeding a pair ofinner webs in side-by-side relationship; b. adhering same together atlongitudinally spaced points therealong; c. spacing the adhered webslaterally between the points of adherence thereof to define articlereceiving pockets in each web; d. delivering an article to the pocketsof each web so that said articles move in side-by-side rows; e. feedinga pair of outer webs along the outer side of said articles; f. formingsaid outer webs about said articles and adhering the same tocorresponding inner webs to define article encircling loops which areconnected together; g. the improvements in said method comprising thesteps of: i. adhering said outer webs to said inner webs at pointsmarking the beginning and end of a group of articles to be retainedbetween all of the aforesaid webs; ii. adhering said outer webs to saidinner webs between articles of said group intermediate said beginningand end points for stretching said outer webs prior to adhering the sameto said inner webs.
 9. A method according to claim 8 which includes thestep of stretching said webs to rely on the memory characteristicsthereof to cause the article engaging loops to firmly engage saidarticles.
 10. A method according to claim 8 which includes the step ofsevering said webs at intervals defining said articles as articlegroups.
 11. A method according to claim 8 wherein said webs are formedfrom thermoplastic material and said webs are adhered by pressure andheat.